Trick or treat

By KTAR Newsroom | June 4, 2012 at 10:08 pmUPDATED: June 4, 2012 at 10:17 pm

Kate James at News.Gather.com reports: At least 900
pet deaths and illnesses have been linked to Chinese dog
treats. Six months ago the FDA issued a warning about the
chicken jerky dog treats. Since March the number of
complaints of pet sicknesses and deaths have
doubled.Throughout the U.S. these Chinese dog treats have
caused kidney failure in pets and even death in many
instances. The FDA continues their investigation………. The
treats believed to have caused the problem are Nestle
Purina’s Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch, and both of
these are produced in China. However, the FDA does not
know what it is about the Chinese produced dog treats that
have caused the problem for pets that eat them.

The FDA has warned about these treats since 2007, but
things really escalated near the end of 2011. People whose
pets have been affected have created a Facebook group
called “Animal Parents Against Pet Treats Made In China.”

Kate asks,”Why on Earth are these pet treats still on the
shelves? With all these pet deaths and illnesses they
should be removed until somebody figures out what the
cause is.”

Kate, first it’s a NESTLE product- not a small company’s
product. The FDA needs to “investigate” (said slowly).
Surely you understand!

Next, Kate, if Chinese companies produce baby formulas and
put melamine in it to save money, and kids die of
associated kidney failure, why would you assume that they
would be any more diligent/honest with dogs? Look, a buck
is a buck. And since, dogs can’t talk and most people
do not know about this “embarrassment” then let “sleeping
dogs lie” I would say. Keeping it hushed could save some
law suits – Nestle does not want “unnecessary” lawsuits I
would guess.